Double Award Nominations For O’Driscoll And Campbell

Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll has been nominated alongside fellow Ireland internationals Paul O’Connell and Johnny O’Connor for the 2005 BT IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year award.

O’Driscoll boasts two nominations for next month’s Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) Awards, with the 26-year-old centre going head-to-head with another two-time nominee Kieran Campbell of Ulster for the Try of the Year gong.

Campbell – who has made the scrum-half position his own at Ravenhill this season – is also up against provincial team mate Tommy Bowe – last year’s Young Player of the Year – and Leinster fly-half David Holwell for the Newcomer of the Year award.

Munster lock O’Connell will be hoping not to be outdone by a Leinster and Ireland centre for the second year running after Gordon D’Arcy walked off with the 2004 Players’ Player of the Year award last May.

Malcolm O’Kelly, another of the Leinster and Ireland brigade, took the inaugural year’s Player award in 2003.

A total of six awards will be presented at the 2005 ceremony at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on Wednesday, May 4. Players from all four provinces have cast votes, with Connacht fly-half Eric Elwood set to be deservingly inducted into the IRUPA Barker Hall of Fame.

2005 Award Nominations:

BT IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year:
Paul O’Connell (Munster)
Johnny O’Connor (Wasps)

Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster)

IRUPA Hooke & MacDonald Unsung Hero of the Year:
Neil Best (Ulster)
John Hayes (Munster)
Shane Jennings (Leinster)

IRUPA Barker Hall of Fame:

Eric Elwood (Connacht)

IRUPA Tyrone Crystal Try of the Year:

Kieran Campbell (Ulster) (v Stade Francais (first half), Ravenhill, Saturday, December 11, 2004)

David Humphreys (Ulster) (v Stade Francais (second half), Ravenhill, Saturday, December 11, 2004)

Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster) (v Bourgoin (second half), Stade Pierre Rajon, Friday, December 10, 2004)

IRUPA Green Giant Newcomer of the Year:

Tommy Bowe (Ulster)
Kieran Campbell (Ulster)
David Holwell (Leinster)

IRUPA Irish Life Special Merit Award:
To be announced on Wednesday, May 4